Tree Planting and Groundbreaking Picnic!

Our vision to create a center for connection, growth and celebration at the edge of the Holly Shores/ Edward Rendon Sr. Park at Festival Beach is finally coming to fruition! (Yes, that’s how you spell fruition, with fruit in it). Fruit and nut trees will be planted in about a week and a half after the earthworks are finalized. Some of you may have noticed the orange tree protection fences and berms and swales on the site already? It’s taken three years of collaborative efforts to negotiate the start of the Phase 1 Pilot Program and it has not been an easy task as this will be one of the first food forests on Public Park Land in the country to date! To do it we have successfully united many voices that want to keep this neighborhood park tranquil, diverse, vibrant and multi-generational. Together we have created such a powerful alliance that the Parks Department has had no choice but to listen to it. This is community organizing at its healthiest! We couldn’t have done it without the help of our city staff, neighbors, friends and family.